Portable track device for motor-vehicles.



J. MAHER. PORTABLE TRACK DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 19164 L fi l o Patented Apr. 1?,1917.

JAMES M. MAHER, (0F FREEMGNT, NEBRASKA.

PORTABLE TRACK DEVICE EOE MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Application filed August 14, 1916.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, JAMES M. MAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Freemont, in the county of Dodge and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable lirack Devices for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for extricating motor vehicles when the same are mired in mud, loose sand or the like.

It is the object of my invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and efficient device for the above purpose, having means whichmay be placed in engagement with the driving wheels of the vehicle so that rotation of the wheels will propel the vehicle and enable the same to move out of the mire under its own power.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described capable of being folded so as to occupy only a moderate space when not in use..

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein dis closed can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention con structed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a vehicle wheel with my track applied thereto. The track being shown in the position it occupies before receiving the strain from the wheel.

Fig. 2 re resents a top plan view of the two ends 0 my track device.

Fig. 3 represents a perspective View of a portion of one of the slats used in my track, showing the manner of connecting the slats to the links, and

Fig. 4 represents a similar view of a modified form of link.

Referring by numeral to the drawing, in which similar characters of reference denote like parts in all the views:

he numeral 1, designates the chain proper consisting of the malleable iron links specification of Letters Patent.

10 as far under the wheel Patented Apr. 11 T1, 159.113. Serial No. 114,746.

Secured to one end of the track is the chain 7 having the center ring 8 through @WhiCh the iron pin 9 is driven in the ground to hold the track stationary and allow the wheel to strain thereon. The track has secured to its other end the chain 10 which is used in placing the track under the. wheel. This is accomplished by placing the chain 11 as possible and the rotating of the wheel tends to draw the track proper under the wheel until it becomes taut, when the wheel will pull itself out of the mire, the track preventing the wheel from spinning around as is the case when a track is not used.

In the form of link shown in Fig. 4, the link 3' is provided with the angular opening 3 which fits over the end of the slat 5, and has the opening 4 for connecting with the links 2 by any desired pin or other connec tion.

It will be obvious that in the use of the I apparatus for a vehicle of which both driving wheels are mired, one of the track de vices will be required for each driving wheel, but it is seldom, if ever, necessary to use more than two of the track devices to extricate the vehicle where the same is not so deeply mired as to entirely prevent its operation. It may be noted that for different vehicles different sizes of the track may be hicles comprising a flexible strap made up of parallel linked chains and cross bars fixed to certain of the links forming said parallel chains, a chain having its ends secured to one end of the strap and adapted to be fixed other end thereof, said chain being comto the ground, and an initial traction chain posed of a series of long and short links. 10 at the other end of said strap. 7 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 2. A portable track device for motor vehiin the presence of two witnesses. 5 cles, comprising a flexiblestra made up of JAMES M. MAHER.

side chains and cross bars xed to said Witnesses: chains, an attaching chain at one end of the S. W. BOYD. strap, and an initial traction chain at the D. J. SPRINGER. 

